Chicago Fire vs. FC Cincinnati: Gameday Guide and How to Watch

Robert Berić was in the middle of a long goal scoring drought.

The Chicago Fire had just been played off the field by the Crew in Columbus. The Fire arrived back at Soldier Field trying to sort out a lot of issues, but there was one big glimmer of hope—they were at home for a midweek game against FC Cincinnati.

Fabian Herbers scored in the second minute of that match on August 25, 2020, the Fire went on to win 3-0, and the win over Cincinnati kicked off a decent run for Chicago—they’d go on to win three more games, before going winless in their final six, missing the playoffs by one point.

The script is nearly the same heading into tonight’s match. Berić goal drought? Check. Bad loss to the Crew in Columbus? Check. Struggling? Yep. Will another mid-week Soldier Field match against Cincinnati be the spark the Fire need to get something going? It’s the first of four straight at home for the Fire.

“Obviously looking forward, I mean, I don’t look four games ahead,” Herbers said. “I know we have Cincinnati and on Wednesday it’s a quick turnaround. It’s nice, so the 2-0 doesn’t stick too long in your bones. We have a chance to make it up in front of our home fans and we are up for the task.”

For fans attending tonight’s match, things will start to look a bit more normal. Tailgating is back (on top of the Waldron parking deck), and there won’t be movement restrictions around the stadium. The same rules will apply for Saturday’s match against Philadelphia.

Starting July 3 against Atlanta United, the stadium moves to full soccer capacity, the “Burnham Downs” tailgate opens on the East Lawn, and fans can buy merchandise with the new logo.

For fans watching at home—Arlo White is back on the call alongside Tony Meola. It’s the second of four matches White is calling this summer before heading out on NBC Olympic duty. Tyler Terens moves to sideline duty.

Chicago Fire vs. FC Cincinnati

MLS Match #9 | Wednesday, June 23 | Soldier Field, Chicago

Kickoff: 7 p.m. CT

TV: WGN-TV

Chicago Area Steaming: CFFC Live - free at ChicagoFireFC.com or the Chicago Fire mobile app for fans living in the Chicago TV market

Out of Market Streaming: ESPN+ (use our link to subscribe and help support Hot Time!)

Radio: TUDN 1200AM

Live Twitter Updates: @HotTimeOldTown

Chicago Fire Injuries & Absences

• OUT: Przemyslaw Frankowski (international duty)
• OUT: Gaston Gimenez (international duty)
• OUT: Stanislav Ivanov (left knee)
• OUT: Kenneth Kronholm (right knee)
• QUESTIONABLE: Wyatt Omsberg (left hip)

FC Cincinnati Injuries & Absences

• OUT: Calvin Harris (meniscus)
• OUT: Maikel van der Werff (sports hernia)
• OUT: Zico Bailey (hip)

Next up for the Fire

Saturday, June 26 - Chicago Fire vs. Philadelphia Union at Soldier Field, Chicago (7 p.m. CT, WGN and CFFC Live)